Michael H. Seid and Associates, LLC (MSA), the nation's leading franchise-consulting firm, announced that they have signed an agreement with the International Franchise Association Education Foundation to establish the Michael H. Seid and Associates Veterans Scholarship Fund.

"Providing support to veterans is an important part of the IFA's mission", said Dick Rennick, CFE, Chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation, and CEO of American Leak Detection. "We are grateful to MSA for making this veteran's scholarship possible and thankful for their ongoing support of the Foundation's programs."

The Michael H. Seid and Associates Veterans Scholarship will be awarded annually, beginning in 2004, to U.S. Military veterans enrolled in an entrepreneurial course of study at an accredited college or university. Scholarship recipients will be required to apply the money toward tuition and fees.

"We have always strongly supported the mission of the IFA Education Foundation and this scholarship is a continuation of that support," said Michael Seid, founder and Managing Director of MSA. "We wanted to find a way through the foundation to show our gratitude for the sacrifices veterans have made for our Country in a way similar to how franchisors are showing their support through the IFA's Vet Fran program."

The IFA Educational Foundation will develop the general eligibility criteria for the Michael H. Seid and Associates Veterans Scholarship and be responsible for the selection process associated with awarding the scholarship, Rennick said.

"Franchising plays a key role in our nation's business environment" said Kay Marie Ainsley, Managing Director of MSA further noting that both she and Michael have been designated Certified franchise Executives by the IFA Education Foundation. "We see the importance of educating the next generation of franchise experts and many of today's returning veterans will be those future business leaders."

For additional information or to apply for Michael H. Seid and Associates Veteran's scholarship, contact John Reynolds, Foundation president, at the IFA Educational Foundation, 1350 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC, 20005 or call (202) 662-0764.

About Michael H. Seid & Associates, LLC

MSA provides domestic and international franchise advisory service to franchisors, companies seeking to establish franchise and licensing systems, and attorneys seeking litigation support and expert witness services. MSA specializes in the design, development and operation of domestic and international Franchises primarily in the restaurant, retail, service and business-to-business industries. MSA's clients range from Fortune 10 companies to emerging franchisors with only a handful of successful operations. Known as the leading strategic and tactical strategy house in franchising, MSA works with their clients to develop strategies for them to become successful new franchisors and also with established franchisors to attain their Franchising expansion, management, franchisee relations and financial goals. As former franchisors and franchisees and with their extensive experience in branding, operations, marketing and finance, MSA provides established franchisors with a team of advisors who have the practical experience necessary to identify leading edge strategies that can be implemented by its client's personnel. Michael Seid, founder and Managing Director of MSA is the co-author with the late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's of Franchising for Dummies. Michael and Dave donated all of their proceeds from the sale of Franchising for Dummies to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Michael is on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Associations and is the first and currently the only professional service provider ever directly elected to the board in the association's history. Kay Ainsley, is on the board of the IFA's Supplier Forum and GLOMAK, the IFA's international marketing committee.

Franchise News Release: West Hartford, CT - (Nov-12-2003)